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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis CASP - a Standardized Model for Polymicrobial Abdominal Sepsis
Published on: December 18, 2010
The role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 on mitochondrial dysfunction of peritoneal leukocytes during
Yu Gong1, Lin Zou2, Dunjin Chen3
1Biomedicine Research Center and Department of Surgery, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China; Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA.
Objective:
To investigate the role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) on mitochondrial dysfunction of peritoneal leukocytes during polymicrobial sepsis.
Material And Methods:
Polymicrobial peritonitis, a clinically relevant mouse model of sepsis, was generated by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) in both male C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and MyD88 knockout (MyD88(-/-)) mice. Twenty-four hours after surgeries, peritoneal leukocytes were collected and four parameters of mitochondrial function, including total intracellular and mitochondrial ROS burst, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ATP depletion, were measured by flow cytometry or ATP assay, and then compared.
Results:
Polymicrobial sepsis led to a marked mitochondrial dysfunction of peritoneal leukocytes with total intracellular and mitochondrial ROS overproduction, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced intracellular ATP production. In comparison, there was no significant difference in the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction of peritoneal leukocytes between WT and MyD88(-/-) septic mice.
Conclusions:
MyD88 may be not sufficient to regulate mitochondrial dysfunction of peritoneal leukocytes during polymicrobial sepsis.
Insights
Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) did not significantly alter mitochondrial dysfunction in leukocytes during sepsis. This suggests MyD88 is insufficient alone to regulate these sepsis-induced cellular changes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
- Sepsis Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key feature of sepsis, contributing to cellular injury and organ failure.
- Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is a critical adaptor protein in innate immune signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MyD88 in regulating mitochondrial dysfunction in peritoneal leukocytes during polymicrobial sepsis.
- To compare mitochondrial function in leukocytes from wild-type and MyD88 knockout mice subjected to sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Polymicrobial sepsis was induced using cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) in C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and MyD88 knockout (MyD88(-/-)) mice.
- Peritoneal leukocytes were isolated 24 hours post-CLP.
- Mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels.
Main Results:
- Polymicrobial sepsis induced significant mitochondrial dysfunction in peritoneal leukocytes, characterized by increased ROS production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced ATP levels.
- No significant differences in the extent of mitochondrial dysfunction were observed between WT and MyD88(-/-) septic mice.
Conclusions:
- MyD88 signaling alone may not be sufficient to regulate mitochondrial dysfunction in peritoneal leukocytes during polymicrobial sepsis.
- These findings suggest that other signaling pathways may play a more dominant role in mediating MyD88-independent mitochondrial dysfunction in this sepsis model.

